Building bridges: Greg Robertson’s guide to thriving in real estate tech

In this episode of It’s Closing Time, RentSpree CEO Michael Lucarelli speaks with Greg Robertson, founder of Giant Steps Advisors, co-creator of Vendor Alley, and co-founder of W+R Studios. Greg shares his experiences in the real estate technology space, his thoughts on starting new ventures, and navigating today’s challenging environment. 

Key highlights from the conversation:

Supporting startups

• Robertson shares how his latest venture, Giant Steps Advisors, aims to “accelerate the journey” for startups and companies entering the real estate tech space.
• Named after the John Coltrane album, Robertson shares how he wanted a name that reflected the idea of taking "giant steps" to move forward.

Challenges of bootstrapping

• Robertson reflects on the difficulties and rewards of bootstrapping a company and discusses how being self-funded taught valuable lessons but also presented unique challenges.

Industry insights

• Robertson provides insights into launching a real estate software company during difficult economic times, such as during the 2008 financial crisis.
• He emphasizes the importance of persistence and resilience in surviving the ups and downs of the industry. 

Importance of integrity and advice for newcomers

• Greg advises newcomers to focus on building genuine connections and how to accomplish that.
• Greg highlights that offering support and guidance to others, even without an immediate benefit, is key to building trust and credibility in the industry.

Navigating the MLS space

• Greg provides insights on the unique challenges MLS (Multiple Listing Service) vendors face when transitioning to a competitive market.
• Greg highlights that many MLS companies struggle with true “go-to-market” strategies due to their traditionally protected environments.

Current real estate market challenges

• Greg discusses current pressures on the market, including low inventory and economic uncertainty and how vendors in the real estate tech space are facing unusually tough times due to various factors such as regulatory pressures and market shifts.

Looking ahead

• Greg offers advice to new vendors in the space with a focus on resilience and adaptability, noting that persistence is key to success, no matter what the market conditions. 

Conclusion

Greg Robertson’s experience emphasizes the importance of resilience, integrity, and building genuine relationships as key to navigating the challenges of the real estate tech industry. Tune in to this episode of the It’s Closing Time podcast to hear more about his take on how to succeed in today’s market and going forward.

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/48vRRvi 

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3UvV0oO 

YouTube: https://bit.ly/4e5ZJof